Police in Missouri have launched a homicide investigation after a woman's body was found along the side of a road Monday.A bicyclist discovered the body, which was found with a suitcase, the McDonald County Sheriff's Office said in a news release. Police believe the woman's body was put into the suitcase and then dumped on the steep hillside along the highway."(The body) was found downhill from the suitcase," McDonald County Sheriff Michael Hall told The Joplin Globe. "We believe she was possibly in (the suitcase) at one time."The case is being investigated as a homicide.The amount of time the woman's body was outside and exposed to the elements has hindered her identification, the release said. Investigators believe the body is most likely that of a woman in her 20s or 30s.Investigators believe the woman probably died elsewhere, then the body was disposed of on the hillside. "I do not believe it's the murder scene, no," Hall said.Hall said there are no missing persons cases in the area that would match up with the body. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the McDonald County Sheriff's Office's dispatch center at 417-223-4318 and ask for an investigator.

Police in Missouri have launched a homicide investigation after a woman's body was found along the side of a road Monday.

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A bicyclist discovered the body, which was found with a suitcase, the McDonald County Sheriff's Office said in a news release. Police believe the woman's body was put into the suitcase and then dumped on the steep hillside along the highway.

"(The body) was found downhill from the suitcase," McDonald County Sheriff Michael Hall told The Joplin Globe. "We believe she was possibly in (the suitcase) at one time."

The case is being investigated as a homicide.

The amount of time the woman's body was outside and exposed to the elements has hindered her identification, the release said. Investigators believe the body is most likely that of a woman in her 20s or 30s.

Investigators believe the woman probably died elsewhere, then the body was disposed of on the hillside.

"I do not believe it's the murder scene, no," Hall said.

Hall said there are no missing persons cases in the area that would match up with the body.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the McDonald County Sheriff's Office's dispatch center at 417-223-4318 and ask for an investigator.